Senate first readers, 2021 January 28

SENATE FIRST READERS THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021 SEVENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY

SB 27.

By Senators Thompson of the 14th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Dugan of the 30th, Hatchett of the 50th, Hufstetler of the 52nd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 43-14-15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to certain military certifications that entitle persons to obtain certain professional licenses, so as to extend the time a member of the military has to qualify for the issuance of a license or certification as an electrical contractor, plumber, conditioned air contractor, low-voltage contractor, or utility contractor using his or her military specialty or certification; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Committee.

SB 28.

By Senators Hatchett of the 50th, Strickland of the 17th, Dixon of the 45th, Payne of the 54th and Cowsert of the 46th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 11 of Title 15 and Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Juvenile Code and domestic relations, so as to strengthen, clarify, and update provisions relating to the protection of children; to require annual training for juvenile court intake officers; to provide for the consideration of evidence, including hearsay evidence, in certain juvenile proceedings; to revise provisions relative to the Juvenile Code and the reporting of child abuse; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SB 29.

By Senator Anavitarte of the 31st:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections and primaries generally, so as to provide for the submission of certain forms of identification by electors with absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Ethics Committee.

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SB 30.

By Senators Beach of the 21st and Harbison of the 15th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, so as to provide for pari-mutuel horse racing in this state at a limited number of licensed equestrian centers; to create the Georgia Horse Racing Commission; to provide for the comprehensive regulation of pari-mutuel and related activities; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to enter into the Interstate Compact on Licensure of Participants in Live Racing with Pari-mutuel Wagering; to provide a short title; to provide for related matters; to provide for a contingent effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.

SB 31.

By Senators Hufstetler of the 52nd, Hickman of the 4th, Miller of the 49th, Burke of the 11th, Dolezal of the 27th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the care and protection of indigent and elderly patients, so as to provide for the establishment of a pilot program to conduct a simulated exchange for health care facilities to purchase and sell charity care credits to meet their charity care requirements; to provide for definitions; to provide for the design of the simulated exchange; to provide for a report; to provide for penalties for nonparticipation; to provide for automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Finance Committee.

SB 32.

By Senators Brass of the 28th, Robertson of the 29th, Burke of the 11th, Albers of the 56th, Gooch of the 51st and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 50-18-72 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to when public disclosure not required, so as to exempt certain personal records of state and federal employees from public disclosure; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

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SB 33.

By Senators Dixon of the 45th, Hatchett of the 50th, Mullis of the 53rd, Miller of the 49th, Jackson of the 2nd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding torts, so as to provide a cause of action against perpetrators for victims of human trafficking; to provide for definitions; to provide a cause of action against certain perpetrators of human trafficking by the Attorney General on behalf of the state; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SB 34.

By Senators Dixon of the 45th, Hatchett of the 50th, Mullis of the 53rd, Miller of the 49th, Jackson of the 2nd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 12 of Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to name change, so as to provide that victims of human trafficking may petition for name change under seal; to provide for a definition; to provide for determination by the court; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SB 35.

By Senators Parent of the 42nd, Jones of the 10th, Jones II of the 22nd, Orrock of the 36th, Jackson of the 41st and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections and primaries generally, so as to revise the qualifications of poll officers; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Ethics Committee.

SB 36.

By Senators Jones of the 10th, Jordan of the 6th, Harrell of the 40th, Jones II of the 22nd, Orrock of the 36th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections and primaries generally, so as to provide a definition; to provide for the development of a pilot program for the provision of grants for rural counties for the purpose of establishing and funding the operation of advance voting location in such counties; to provide for criteria for such grants and the assessment of the effectiveness of such pilot program; to provide for certain reports; to provide for a funding contingency; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Ethics Committee.

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SB 37.

By Senators Butler of the 55th, Jones of the 10th, Jones II of the 22nd, Jordan of the 6th, Orrock of the 36th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections, so as to enact the Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote; to allow states to join together to establish an interstate compact to elect the president by national popular vote; to provide for the implementation of such compact; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Ethics Committee.

SB 38.

By Senators Parent of the 42nd, Butler of the 55th, Jackson of the 2nd, Orrock of the 36th, Jordan of the 6th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to primaries and elections generally, so as to provide for a permanent absentee voter list; to provide for procedures regarding such list; to provide for maintenance of such list; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Ethics Committee.

SB 39.

By Senators Jones II of the 22nd, Orrock of the 36th, Jackson of the 41st, Rahman of the 5th, Merritt of the 9th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 21-2-216 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to qualifications of electors generally, reregistration of electors purged from list, eligibility of nonresidents who vote in presidential elections, retention of qualification for standing as elector, evidence of citizenship, and check of convicted felons and deceased persons databases, so as to provide that convictions for offenses involving the purchase, possession, or control of certain controlled substances shall not prevent persons from registering, remaining registered, or voting; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Ethics Committee.

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SB 40.

By Senators Jordan of the 6th, Au of the 48th, Merritt of the 9th, Jones II of the 22nd, Parent of the 42nd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections and primaries generally, so as to revise the time and method for opening and tabulating absentee ballots; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Ethics Committee.

SB 41.

By Senators Hufstetler of the 52nd and Jackson of the 2nd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 47 and 48 of the O.C.G.A., relating to retirement and pensions and revenue and taxation, respectively, so as to create the Tax Commissioners Retirement Fund of Georgia; to provide for a board; to provide for a charge on delinquent or defaulted tax notices; to provide for the collection and remittance of such amounts; to provide for refunds of contributions with interest; to provide for conditions; to provide for definitions; to provide that a portion of title ad valorem tax fees, penalties, and interest shall be remitted to the retirement fund instead of the county general fund; to provide for related matters; to provide conditions for an effective date and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Retirement Committee.

SB 42.

By Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Gooch of the 51st, Harbison of the 15th, Payne of the 54th, Miller of the 49th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 20-14-33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to indicators of quality of learning in individual schools and school systems, comparison to state standards, rating schools and school systems, providing information, and uniform definition of "dropout" and "below grade level," so as to provide that the school climate rating does not include discipline data; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Education and Youth Committee.

SR 22.

By Senators Orrock of the 36th, Butler of the 55th, Parent of the 42nd, Jordan of the 6th, Jackson of the 2nd and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending the Multi-Agency Alliance for Children; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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SR 23.

By Senators Albers of the 56th, Mullis of the 53rd, Strickland of the 17th, Watson of the 1st, Gooch of the 51st and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Hemophilia of Georgia; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 24.

By Senators Albers of the 56th and Payne of the 54th:

A RESOLUTION commending Lindsey King, Curriculum Associates' 2021 National Teacher of the Year; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 25.

By Senators Gooch of the 51st, Miller of the 49th, Beach of the 21st, Ginn of the 47th, Mullis of the 53rd and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing February 9, 2021, as Chase Elliott Day; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 26.

By Senators Harper of the 7th, Tillery of the 19th, Kennedy of the 18th, Dugan of the 30th, Harbin of the 16th and others:

A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to authorize the state to incur general obligation debt in order to make loans or grants to certain counties, municipalities, consolidated governments, local authorities, and local commissions that own airports for the acquisition, construction, development, extension, enlargement, or improvement of such airports; to provide for submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.

Referred to Appropriations Committee.

SR 27.

By Senators Beach of the 21st, Jones of the 25th, Brass of the 28th, Dolezal of the 27th, Harper of the 7th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing Dr. Charles Frazier Stanley and dedicating a road in his honor; and for other purposes.

Referred to Transportation Committee.

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SR 28.

By Senators Cowsert of the 46th, Gooch of the 51st, Dugan of the 30th, Miller of the 49th, Anavitarte of the 31st and others:

A RESOLUTION requesting that the United States Congress call a convention under Article V of the Constitution of the United States limited to proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to set a limit on the number of terms that a person may be elected as a member of the United States House of Representatives and to set a limit on the number of terms that a person may be elected as a member of the United States Senate; and for other purposes.

Referred to Government Oversight Committee.

SR 29.

By Senators Cowsert of the 46th, Gooch of the 51st, Dugan of the 30th, Kennedy of the 18th, Miller of the 49th and others:

A RESOLUTION applying for a convention of the states under Article V of the United States Constitution; and for other purposes.

Referred to Government Oversight Committee.

SR 30.

By Senators Cowsert of the 46th, Miller of the 49th, Dugan of the 30th, Gooch of the 51st, Kennedy of the 18th and others:

A RESOLUTION appointing Matthew Mashburn to the State Election Board; and for other purposes.

Referred to Rules Committee.

SR 31.

By Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Jones of the 10th, Davenport of the 44th, Seay of the 34th, Jackson of the 2nd and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Reverend Jasper W. Williams Jr. upon the grand occasion of his 57th pastoral anniversary; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 32.

By Senators Harbin of the 16th, Robertson of the 29th, Payne of the 54th, Strickland of the 17th, Thompson of the 14th and others:

A RESOLUTION congratulating and commending NewLife Radio upon the grand occasion of its 25th anniversary; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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SR 33.

By Senators Payne of the 54th and Tippins of the 37th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing January 27 and 28, 2021, as Advanced Placement Days at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 35.

By Senators Hatchett of the 50th, Miller of the 49th, Butler of the 55th, Gooch of the 51st and Mullis of the 53rd:

A RESOLUTION commending the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Northeast Georgia Health System and expressing appreciation for their efforts to provide a COVID-19 Surveillance Testing Program for the Georgia General Assembly; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

HB 80.

By Representatives Ralston of the 7th, Jones of the 47th, Burns of the 159th and England of the 116th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act making and providing appropriations for the State Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2020, and ending June 30, 2021, known as the "General Appropriations Act," Act No. 404, approved June 30, 2020, so as to make, provide, and change certain appropriations for the operation of the State government and its departments, boards, bureaus, commissions, institutions, and other agencies, for the university system, common schools, counties, municipalities, and political subdivisions, for all other governmental activities, projects, and undertakings authorized by law, and for all leases, contracts, agreements, and grants authorized by law; to provide for the control and administration of funds; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Appropriations Committee.

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